ANNOUNCEMENTS

IMPORTANT MESSAGE TO ALL HIGH SCHOOL COUNSELORS:

NCTC THEA MATH REQUIREMENTS HAVE CHANGED

As of June 1, 2009, NCTC will raise the THEA score for TSI exemptions. All students taking a college level math course must be TSI exempt by TAKS, SAT or ACT (see test chart below). If a student is not exempt and takes the THEA or COMPASS, they must have a score of 270 on THEA math or 60 on COMPASS math in order to take any college level math course.

Please note that a passing score is still 230 (THEA) and 39-Algebra (COMPASS). Therefore, if a student scores between a 230 and 269 or 39-59, the score report will show the student passed, but they will not be eligible for any college level math course at NCTC.

Please contact the dual credit coordinator in your county for any questions.

First Step – Student Meets With School Counselor
Meeting with their high school counselors is the first step for students wishing to enroll in Dual Credit Courses at NCTC. These courses are open to high school juniors and seniors residing in the NCTC service area who meet all of the following requirements. Public school, private school, charter school and home school students are eligible to enroll provided they meet the criteria outlined below.

SPECIFIC ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS

Students must meet specific requirements set by each school district.
Students must have a minimum high school grade point average (GPA) of “B.”
- Students who demonstrate exceptional qualities and have a GPA of less than “B” may be allowed to enroll in one college-level course, but only with the mutual consent of the high school principal and the appropriate instructional dean at NCTC.
- Students must exhibit the maturity and social behavior necessary to participate in a college-level course. Students with prior disciplinary or attendance problems, as defined by The Texas Education Code, section 25.92 Minimum Attendance for Class Credit, are not eligible to enroll in dual-credit courses.
Students must meet ALL of the following criteria:
- Provide a recommendation from their school principal or counselor
- Hold junior standing
Private school and home-schooled students must meet ALL of the following criteria:
- Pass all three sections of the THEA test since they are not required to take the TAKS test
- Hold junior standing
- Be at least 16 years of age at the time of enrollment

General Requirements
Prior to enrollment in Dual Credit Courses at NCTC, students must pass the portion of the THEA or COMPASS test that applies to the course(s) they intend to take in order to meet TSI requirements (Texas Success Initiative):

College level math—Students must pass the math portion of the THEA and score a 270 or COMPASS (60) test in order to take a college level math course.
College level English—Students must pass the writing portion of the THEA (220, essay 5) or COMPASS (59, essay 5) test in order to take a college level English course.
Other college level courses—Students must pass the reading portion of the THEA (230) or COMPASS (81) test in order to take any other college level course.

Counselors can utilize the following chart to advise students of the testing requirements:
THEA, COMPASS, ACT, SAT, TAAS, or TAKS Scores:

Test	Score	Partial Scores**	Validity
THEA	No composite/ combined score	270 – Math 220 – Essay 230 – Reading
COMPASS	No composite/ combined score	60– Algebra 59 – Essay 5 – Writing 81 – Reading
ACT	23 composite	19 - Math 19 - English – Writing 19 - English – Reading	5 years from date of test
SAT	1070 combined	500 – Mat 500 – Verbal – Writing & Reading	5 years from date of test
TAAS	No composite/ combined score applies	86 – Math 1770 – Writing 89 – Reading	3 years from date of test
Exit-level TAKS (*11th grade) scores exempt students from state-mandated testing and allow enrollment in dual credit courses in their senior year.	2200 Math and English/ Language Arts, with a writing sub-score of at least 3	2200 – Math 2200 – Writing sub-score 3 – English/LA	3 years from date of test
*10th Grade TAKS scores can be used as a waiver for dual credit courses only (2200 Math and English/ Language Arts, with a writing sub-score of at least 3). The student can not be exempt by 10th grade scores for non-dual credit course work. *PSAT/NMSQT- combined score of 107 with a score of 50 on the subject relevant to the course to be taken *PLAN (a pre ACT test)- composite 23 with a 19 or higher in Mathematics or English
Used as a waiver for Dual Credit Courses Only Student may receive partial exemptions for reading, writing or math *Partial exemptions are granted on tests taken on or after April 2004.

For more information from the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board on TSI requirements, go the the THECB web site:

http://www.thecb.state.tx.us/OS/SuccessInitiatives/DevEd/dualcredit.cfm

Online THEA Preparation Through NCTC
NCTC offers free online tutorials for THEA testing. (Click TUTORIALS and follow the instructions.) Here, students can access Practice THEA tests, test-taking strategies, and tips for the Reading, Writing and Math Sections.

Application and Registration Process
Counselors can assist students in this process by informing them of the following steps. Please make sure students have all of the following paperwork BEFORE coming to NCTC to register for classes. Students who are missing paperwork or have an un-signed dual credit form will not be eligible for registration.

Any questions about these steps or the admissions process can be referred to the Dual Credit Coordinator in your county.

Students may start this process during their sophomore year. Students should complete this process previous to the start of the registration period for the semester they want to enroll. To apply for admission, students must submit the following materials to the NCTC registrar’s office:

Completed Application for Admission. (This form available at the NCTC Registrar’s Office or ONLINE .)
Official high school transcript.
Official test score report required by the Texas Success Initiative (THEA, COMPASS, Exit Level TAKS, ACT, and SAT). Contact the Counselor’s Office at NCTC for test dates and costs. Refer also to TABLE above.
Completed Dual Credit Agreement form (PDF | Word Doc). This form must contain all of the following information: course ID(s), section number(s), term code, signature of student, school administrator, and parent. Students may obtain this form from their high school counselor or the NCTC registrar’s office. NOTE: Students are required to submit a new dual credit request form each semester before they can register.
Registration periods are listed in the NCTC Class Schedule available ONLINE.
Your registration is not completed until payment of tuition and fees is made to the Business Office on any campus.

Textbooks & Supplies

Students are responsible for purchasing textbooks and supplies required for their North Central Texas College courses. Books and supplies are available from the NCTC Bookstores. Book costs vary each semester due to instructors’ selection of textbooks to be used. Payment is made separate from payment for tuition and books.

Dropping a Course
Dual credit students should be advised that they must contact their high school counselor before withdrawing from a class. This action will insure graduation requirements can still be met without the college course credit. There is no penalty on the students’ high school or college transcript for dropping a dual credit course. Withdrawing from a class requires completion of the appropriate paperwork and doing so before the last date for course withdrawal.

Forms

Dual Credit Agreement Form Dual%20Credit%20Form-New%20Edited%202007

Free Lunch Verification Form http://www.nctc.edu/Dual_Credit/documents/FreeTuitionLetter.doc

Dual Credit Course Transferability

The hours earned at North Central Texas College in academic courses are generally accepted
by other accredited colleges and universities to satisfy specific course requirements or count as
electives.
Dual Credit students planning on attending a four-year school should be aware that each senior college determines its own list of courses required for a particular kind of degree. Moreover, different colleges do not require all the same courses for the same degree. Therefore, knowledge of the degree plan requirements at the institution to which the student plans to attend is very important.

For more information please see the Texas Common Numbering Website for specific course numbering and transfer information:

Texas Common Course Numbering System On-Line Matrix

Request Information
To request any Dual Credit course-related materials, publications, forms, brochures, etc., contact:

Gainesville Campus:
Melinda Carroll,
Director of Admissions
mcarroll@nctc.edu
940-668-7731, Ext. 3315

Corinth Campus:
Amy Klohn,
Dual Credit Coordinator
aklohn@nctc.edu
940-498-6416

Bowie Campus:
Jeanette Shaw,
Counselor
jshaw@nctc.edu
940-872-4002 ext 5212

Resources at NCTC

Financial Aid-
For information about the Free Application for Federal Student Aid and other financial aid click on FAFSA.

Academic and Student Support Services-
For information about TRIO, ACCESS, THEA Prep information, Live Online Tutoring and more, click on Student Support Services.

For information about academic advising, crisis intervention, career guidance, assistance with study skills and test taking information, click on Counseling/Advising.

Additional Resources and Links for High School Counselors

College for Texans – This site gives information about preparing for, applying for and paying for college or technical school in the state of Texas. There is also helpful information about getting through college, career planning and residency information.

Texas Online – This site provides information about choosing and preparing for college in Texas and links to public and private universities, information regarding online courses and degree programs.

American Council on Education – This site gives information about choosing the right college, jump start your education, parental involvement, paying for college, preparing for college and other helpful information.